September 13, 2006 -- Report Cites Progress, Problems in Preventing Childhood Obesity

In an interim report released today, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences said there is still a substantial underinvestment of the resources needed to address the growing problem of childhood obesity, and interventions generally remain fragmented and small-scale. The report, “Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: “How Do We Measure Up?” looks at what has happened since the Institute called attention to childhood obesity in a 2005 report titled “Health in the Balance,” that offered a blueprint for government, industry, media, community, school, and family actions. The new report concludes that while many prevention policies and programs are currently under way to increase physical activity and promote healthful eating among children and youth, lack of systematic monitoring and evaluation have hindered the development of a research base to identify, apply, and disseminate the lessons learned. Among suggested next steps for confronting the obesity epidemic, the new report repeats recommendations that schools should bolster physical education and physical activity requirements and standards, and that efforts should be made to extend obesity prevention to preschool, childcare, and after-school programs. The report also says schools should receive “adequate and sustained” resources from federal and state government funding to implement relevant changes in the school environment, including increased physical activity and consumption of foods and beverages that support a healthful diet. The full text of the report is available at www.nap.edu.